Growth/differentiation factors of the TGF-β family

ABSTRACT

The invention provides DNA sequences encoding novel members of the TGF-β family of proteins. The TGF-β family comprises proteins which function as growth and/or differentiation factors and which are useful in medical applications. Accordingly, the invention also describes the isolation of the above-mentioned DNA sequences, the expression of the encoded proteins, the production of the proteins and pharmaceutical compositions containing the proteins.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application PCT/WO93/16099 filed Feb. 12, 1993, and designating the U.S.

The present invention relates to DNA sequences encoding novel growth/differentiation factors of the TGF-β family. In particular, it relates to novel DNA sequences encoding TGF-β-like proteins, to the isolation of said DNA sequences, to expression plasmids containing said DNA, to microorganisms transformed by said expression plasmid, to the production of said protein by culturing said transformant, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing said protein. The TGF-β family of growth factors comprising BMP, TGF, and Inhibin related proteins (Roberts and Sporn, Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 95 (1990), 419-472) is of particular relevance in a wide range of medical treatments and applications. These factors are useful in processes relating to wound healing and tissue repair. Furthermore, several members of the TGF-β family are tissue inductive, especially osteo-inductive, and consequently play a crucial role in inducing cartilage and bone development.

Wozney, Progress in Growth Factor Research 1 (1989), 267-280 and Vale et al., Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 95 (1990), 211-248 describe different growth factors such as those relating to the BMP (bone morphogenetic proteins) and the Inhibin group. The members of these groups share significant structural similarity. The precursor of the protein is composed of an aminoterminal signal sequence, a propeptide and a carboxyterminal sequence of about 110 amino acids, which is subsequently cleaved from the precursor and represents the mature protein. Furthermore, their members are defined by virtue of amino acid sequence homology. The mature protein contains the most conserved sequences, especially seven cysteine residues which are conserved among the family members. The TGF-β-like proteins are multifunctional, hormonally active growth factors. They also share related biological activities such as chemotactic attraction of cells, promoting cell differentiation and their tissue-inducing capacity, such as cartilage- and bone-inducing capacity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,649 discloses DNA sequences encoding osteo-inductive proteins termed BMP-2 proteins (bone morphogenetic protein), and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 179 101 and 179 197 disclose the BMP proteins BMP-1 and BMP-3. Furthermore, many cell types are able to synthesize TGF-β-like proteins and virtually all cells possess TGF-β receptors.

Taken together, these proteins show differences in their structure, leading to considerable variation in their detailed biological function. Furthermore, they are found in a wide variety of different tissues and developmental stages. Consequently, they might possess differences concerning their function in detail, for instance the required cellular physiological environment, their lifespan, their targets, their requirement for accessory factors, and their resistance to degradation. Thus, although numerous proteins exhibiting tissue-inductive, especially osteo-inductive potential are described, their natural role in the organism and, more importantly, their medical relevance must still be elucidated in detail. The occurrence of still-unknown members of the TGF-β family relevant for osteogenesis or differentiation/induction of other tissues is strongly suspected. However, a major problem in the isolation of these new TGF-β-like proteins is that their functions cannot yet be described precisely enough for the design of a discriminative bioassay. On the other hand, the expected nucleotide sequence homology to known members of the family would be too low to allow for screening by classical nucleic acid hybridization techniques. Nevertheless, the further isolation and characterization of new TGF-β-like proteins is urgently needed in order to get hold of the whole set of induction and differentiation proteins meeting all desired medical requirements. These factors might find useful medical applications in defect healing and treatments of degenerative disorders of bone and/or other tissues like, for example, kidney and liver.

Thus, the technical problem underlying the present invention essentially is to provide DNA sequences coding for new members of the TGF-β protein family having mitogenic and/or differentiation-inductive, e.g. osteo-inductive potential.

The solution to the above technical problem is achieved by providing the embodiments characterized in claims 1 to 17. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings. The sequence listings and drawings will now briefly be described.

SEQ ID NO. 1 shows the nucleotide sequence of MP-52, i.e. the embryo derived sequence corresponding to the mature peptide and most of the sequence coding for the propeptide of MP-52.

Some of the propeptide sequence at the 5'-end of MP-52 has not been characterized so far.

SEQ ID NO. 2 shows the nucleotide sequence of MP-121, i.e. the liver derived sequence corresponding to the mature peptide, the sequence coding for the propeptide of MP-121, and sequences 5' and 3' to the coding region.

The start codon begins with nucleotide 128 of SEQ ID NO.2. The sequence coding for the mature MP121 polypeptide begins with nucleotide 836 of SEQ ID NO. 2. The stop codon begins with nucleotide 1184 of SEQ ID NO. 2. The sequence coding for the precursor protein has a length of 1056 bp. The sequence coding for the propeptide has a length of 708 bp and the sequence coding for the mature peptide has a length of 348 bp.

SEQ ID NO. 3 shows the amino acid sequence of MP-52 as deduced from SEQ ID NO. 1.

SEQ ID NO. 4 shows the amino acid sequence of MP-121 as deduced from sequence SEQ ID NO.2. The sequence of the mature polypeptide begins with amino acid 237 of SEQ ID NO. 4. The precursor protein has a length of 352 amino acids. The propeptide and the mature peptide have a length of 236 and 116 amino acids, respectively.

SEQ ID No. 5 shows a part of the nucleotide sequence of the liver derived sequence of MP-121.

SEQ ID NO. 6 shows a part of the nucleotide sequence of the embryo derived sequence of MP-52.

The shorter DNA-sequences SEQ ID NO. 5 and 6 can be useful for example for isolation of further members of the TGF-β-protein family.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1a and 1b shows an alignment of the amino acid sequences of MP-52 and MP-121 starting from the first of the seven conserved cysteines with some related proteins. 1a shows the alignment of MP-52 with some members of the BMP protein family [BMP 2 (SEQ ID NO:23), BMP 4 (SEQ ID NO:24), BMP 5 (SEQ ID NO:25), BMP 6 (SEQ ID NO:26), and BMP 7 (SEQ ID NO:27)]; 1b shows the alignment of MP-121 with some members of the Inhibin protein family [InhibβA (SEQ ID NO:29), InhibβB (SEQ ID NO:30), and Inhibα (SEQ ID NO:31)]. * indicates that the amino acid is the same in all proteins compared; +indicates that the amino acid is the same in at least one of the proteins compared with MP-52 (SEQ ID. NO. 22) (FIG. 1a) or MP-121 (SEQ ID NO. 28) (FIG. 1b).

FIGS. 2a and 2b shows the nucleotide sequences of the oligonucleotide primer as used in the present invention and an alignment of these sequences with known members of the TGF-β family. M means A or C; S means C or G; R means A or G; and K means G or T. 2a depicts the sequence of the primer OD (SEQ ID NO:32), BMP 2 (SEQ ID NO:33), BMP 3 (SEQ ID NO:34), BMP 4(SEQ ID NO:35), BMP 7 (SEQ ID NO:36), TGF-β1 (SEQ ID NO:37), TGF-β2 (SEQ ID NO:38), TGF-β3 (SEQ ID NO:39), Inhibinα (SEQ ID NO:40), Inhibin βA (SEQ ID NO:41), and Inhibin βB(SEQ ID NO:42) 2b shows the sequence of the primer OID (SEQ ID NO:43), BMP 2 (SEQ ID NO:44), BMP 3 (SEQ ID NO:45), BMP 4(SEQ ID NO:46), BMP 7 (SEQ ID NO:47), TGF-β1 (SEQ ID NO:48), TGF-β2 (SEQ ID NO:49), TGF-β3 (SEQ ID NO:50), Inhibinα (SEQ ID NO:51), Inhibin βA (SEQ ID NO:52), and Inhibin βB(SEQ ID NO:53).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to novel TGF-β-like proteins and provides DNA sequences contained in the corresponding genes. Such sequences include nucleotide sequences comprising the sequence

SEQ ID NO. 7 ATGAACTCCATGGACCCCGAGTCCACA and

SEQ ID NO. 8 CTTCTCAAGGCCAACACAGCTGCAGGCACC and in particular sequences as illustrated in SEQ ID Nos. 1 and 2, allelic derivatives of said sequences and DNA sequences degenerated as a result of the genetic code for said sequences. They also include DNA sequences hybridizing under stringent conditions with the DNA sequences mentioned above and containing the following amino acid sequences:

SEQ ID NO. 9 Met-Asn-Ser-Met-Asp-Pro-Glu-Ser-Thr or

SEQ ID NO. 10 Leu-Leu-Lys-Ala-Asn-Thr-Ala-Ala-Gly-Thr.

Although said allelic, degenerate and hybridizing sequences may have structural divergencies due to naturally occurring mutations, such as small deletions or substitutions, they will usually still exhibit essentially the same useful properties, allowing their use in basically the same medical applications.

According to the present invention, the term "hybridization" means conventional hybridization conditions, preferably conditions with a salt concentration of 6 x SSC at 62° to 66° C. followed by a one-hour wash with 0.6 x SSC, 0.1% SDS at 62° to 66° C. The term "hybridization" preferably refers to stringent hybridization conditions with a salt concentration of 4 x SSC at 62°-66° C. followed by a one-hour wash with 0.1 x SSC, 0.1% SDS at 62°-66° C.

Important biological activities of the encoded proteins, preferably MP-52, comprise a mitogenic and osteo-inductive potential and can be determined in assays according to Seyedin et al., PNAS 82 (1985), 2267-2271 or Sampath and Reddi, PNAS 78 (1981), 7599-7603.

The biological properties of the proteins according to the invention, preferably MP-121, may be determined, e.g., by means of the assays according to Wrana et al. (Cell 71, 1003-1014 (1992)), Ling et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. of Science, 82, 7217-7221 (1985)), Takuwa et al. (Am. J. Physiol., 257, E797-E803 (1989)), Fann and Patterson (Proc. Natl. Acad. of Science, 91, 43-47 (1994)), Broxmeyer et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. of Science, 85, 9052-9056 (1988)), Green et al. (Cell, 71, 731-739 (1992)), Partridge et al. (Endocrinology, 108, 213-219 (1981)) or Roberts et al. (PNAS 78, 5339-5343 (1981)).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are DNA sequences as defined above and obtainable from vertebrates, preferably mammals such as pig or cow and from rodents such as rat or mouse, and in particular from primates such as humans.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are the DNA sequences termed MP-52 and MP-121 which are shown in SEQ ID Nos. 1 and 2. The corresponding transcripts of MP-52 were obtained from embryogenic tissue and code for a protein showing considerable amino acid homology to the mature part of the BMP-like proteins (see FIG. 1a). The protein sequences of BMP2 (=BMP2A) and BMP4 (=BMP2B) are described in Wozney et al., Science Vol 242, 1528-1534 (1988). The respective sequences of BMP5, BMP6 and BMP7 are described in Celeste et al., Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. USA Vol 87, 9843-9847 (1990). Some typical sequence homologies, which are specific to known BMP-sequences only, were also found in the propeptide part of MP-52, whereas other parts of the precursor part of MP-52 show marked differences to BMP-precursors. The mRNA of MP-121 was detected in liver tissue, and its correspondig amino acid sequence shows homology to the amino acid sequences of the Inhibin protein chains (see FIG. 1b). cDNA sequences encoding TGF-β-like proteins have not yet been isolated from liver tissue, probably due to a low abundance of TGF-β specific transcripts in this tissue. In embryogenic tissue, however, sequences encoding known TGF-β-like proteins can be found in relative abundance. The inventors have recently detected the presence of a collection of TGF-β-like proteins in liver as well. The high background level of clones related to known factors of this group presents the main difficulty in establishing novel TGF-β-related sequences from these and probably other tissues. In the present invention, the cloning was carried out according to the method described below. Once the DNA sequence has been cloned, the preparation of host cells capable of producing the TGF-β-like proteins and the production of said proteins can be easily accomplished using known recombinant DNA techniques comprising constructing the expression plasmids encoding said protein and transforming a host cell with said expression plasmid, cultivating the transformant in a suitable culture medium, and recovering the product having TGF-β-like activity.

Thus, the invention also relates to recombinant molecules comprising DNA sequences as described above, optionally linked to an expression control sequence. Such vectors may be useful in the production of TGF-β-like proteins in stably or transiently transformed cells. Several animal, plant, fungal and bacterial systems may be employed for the transformation and subsequent cultivation process. Preferably, expression vectors which can be used in the invention contain sequences necessary for the replication in the host cell and are autonomously replicable. It is also preferable to use vectors containing selectable marker genes which can be easily selected for transformed cells. The necessary operation is well-known to those skilled in the art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a host cell transformed by an expression plasmid of the invention and capable of producing a protein of the TGF-β family. Examples of suitable host cells include various eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, such as E. coli, insect cells, plant cells, mammalian cells, and fungi such as yeast.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protein of the TGF-β family encoded by the DNA sequences described above and displaying biological features such as tissue-inductive, in particular osteo-inductive and/or mitogenic capacities possibly relevant to therapeutical treatments. The above-mentioned features of the protein might vary depending upon the formation of homodimers or heterodimers. Such structures may prove useful in clinical applications as well. The amino acid sequence of the especially preferred proteins of the TGF-β-family (MP-52 and MP-121) are shown in SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a process for the production of TGF-β-like proteins. Such a process comprises cultivating a host cell being transformed with a DNA sequence of the present invention in a suitable culture medium and purifying the TGF-β-like protein produced. Thus, this process will allow the production of a sufficient amount of the desired protein for use in medical treatments or in applications using cell culture techniques requiring growth factors for their performance. The host cell is obtainable from bacteria such as Bacillus or Escherichia coli, from fungi such as yeast, from plants such as tobacco, potato, or Arabidopsis, and from animals, in particular vertebrate cell lines such as the Mo-, COS- or CHO cell line.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a particularly sensitive process for the isolation of DNA sequences corresponding to low abundance mRNAs in the tissues of interest. The process of the invention comprises the combination of four different steps. First, the mRNA has to be isolated and used in an amplification reaction using olignucleotide primers. The sequence of the oligonucleotide primers contains degenerated DNA sequences derived from the amino acid sequence of proteins related to the gene of interest. This step may lead to the amplification of already known members of the gene family of interest, an d these undesired sequences would therefore have to be eliminated. This object is achieved by using restriction endonucleases which are known to digest the already-analyzed members of the gene family. After treatment of the amplified DNA population with said restriction endonucleases, the remaining desired DNA sequences are isolated by gel electrophoresis and reamplified in a third step by an amplification reaction, and in a fourth step they are cloned into suitable vectors for sequencing. To increase the sensitivity and efficiency, steps two and three are repeatedly performed, at least two times in one embodiment of this process.

In a preferred embodiment, the isolation process described above is used for the isolation of DNA sequences from liver tissue. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the above-described process, one primer used for the PCR experiment is homologous to the polyA tail of the mRNA, whereas the second primer contains a gene-specific sequence. The techniques employed in carrying out the different steps of this process (such as amplification reactions or sequencing techniques) are known to the person skilled in the art and described, for instance, in Sambrook et al., 1989, "Molecular Cloning: A laboratory manual", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

It is another object of the present invention to provide pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically-effective amount of a protein of the TGF-β family of the present invention. Optionally, such a composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a therapeutic composition can be used in wound healing and tissue repair as well as in the healing of bone, cartilage, or tooth defects, either individually or in conjunction with suitable carriers, and possibly with other related proteins or growth factors. Thus, a therapeutic composition of the invention may include, but is not limited to, the MP-52 encoded protein in conjunction with the MP-121 encoded protein, and optionally with other known biologically-active substances such as EGF (epidermal growth factor) or PDGF (platelet derived growth factor). Another possible clinical application of a TGF-β-like protein is the use as a suppressor of the immuno response, which would prevent rejection of organ transplants. The pharmaceutical composition comprising the proteins of the invention can also be used prophylactically, or can be employed in cosmetic plastic surgery. Furthermore, the application of the composition is not limited to humans but can include animals, in particular domestic animals, as well. Possible applications of the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention include furthermore treatment or prevention of connective tissue, skin, mucous membrane, endothelial, epithelial, neuronal or renal defects, use in the case of dental implants, use as a morphogenic factor used for inducing liver tissue growth, induction of the proliferation of precursor cells or bone marrow cells, for maintaining a differentiated state and the treatment of impaired fertility or for contraception.

Finally, another object of the present invention is an antibody or antibody fragment, which is capable of specifically binding to the proteins of the present invention. Methods to raise such specific antibody are general knowledge. Preferably such an antibody is a monoclonal antibody. Such antibodies or antibody fragments might be useful for diagnostic methods.

The following examples illustrate in detail the invention disclosed, but should not be construed as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Isolation of MP-121

1.1 Total RNA was isolated from human liver tissue (40-year-old-male) by the method of Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry 18 (1979), 5294-5299. Poly A⁺ RNA was separated from total RNA by oligo (dT) chromatography according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Stratagene Poly (A) Quick columns).

1.2 For the reverse transcription reaction, poly A⁺ RNA (1-2.5 μg) derived from liver tissue was heated for 5 minutes to 65° C. and cooled rapidly on ice. The reverse transcription reagents containing 27 U RNA guard (Pharmacia), 2.5 μg oligo d(T)₁₂₋₁₈ (Pharmacia) 5 x buffer (250 mM Tris/HCl pH 8.5; 50 mM MgCl₂ ; 50 mM DTT; 5 mM each DNTP; 600 mM KCl) and 20 units avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase (AMV, Boehringer Mannheim) per μg poly (A⁺) RNA were added. The reaction mixture (25 μl) was incubated for 2 hours at 42° C. The liver cDNA pool was stored at -20° C.

1.3 The deoxynucleotide primers OD and OID (FIG. 2) designed to prime the amplification reaction were generated on an automated DNA-synthesizer (Biosearch). Purification was done by denaturating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isolation of the main band from the gel by isotachophoresis. The oligonucleotides were designed by aligning the nucleic acid sequences of some known members of the TGF-β family and selecting regions of the highest conservation. An alignment of this region is shown in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate cloning, both oligonucleotides contained EcoR I restriction sites and OD additionally contained an Nco I restriction site at its 5' terminus.

1.4 In the polymerase chain reaction, a liver-derived cDNA pool was used as a template in a 50 μl reaction mixture. The amplification was performed in 1 x PCR-buffer (16.6 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄ ; 67 mM Tris/HCl pH 8.8; 2 mM MgCl₂ ; 6.7 μM EDTA; 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol; 170 μg/ml BSA (Gibco)), 200 μM each dNTP (Pharmacia), 30 pmol each oligonucleotide (OD and OID) and 1.5 units Taq polymerase (AmpliTaq, Perkin Elmer Cetus). The PCR reaction contained cDNA corresponding to 30 ng of poly (A⁺) RNA as staring material. The reaction mixture was overlayed by paraffine and 40 cycles (cycle 1: 80 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./40 s 72° C.; cycles 2-9: 60 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./40 s 72° C.; cycles 10-29: 60 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./60 s 72° C.; cycles 30-31: 60 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./90 s 72° C.; cycle 40: 60 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./420 s 72° C.) of the PCR were performed. Six PCR-reaction mixtures were pooled, purified by subsequent extractions with equal volumes of phenol, phenol/chloroform (1:1 (v/v)) and chloroform/isoamylalcohol (24:1 (v/v)) and concentrated by ethanol precipitation.

1.5 One half of the obtained PCR pool was sufficient for digestion with the restriction enzymes Sph I (Pharmacia) and AlwN I (Biolabs). The second half was digested in a series of reactions by the restriction enzymes Ava I (BRL), AlwN I (Biolabs) and Tfi I (Biolabs). The restriction endonuclease digestions were performed in 100 μl at 37° C. (except Tfi I at 65° C.) using 8 units of each enzyme in a 2- to 12-hour reaction in a buffer recommended by the manufacturer.

1.6 Each DNA sample was fractioned by electrophoresis using a 4% agarose gel (3% FMC Nusieve agarose, Biozym and 1% agarose, BRL) in Tris borate buffer (89 mM Trisbase, 89 mM boric acid, 2 mM EDTA, pH 8). After ethidiumbromide staining uncleaved amplification products (about 200 bp; size marker was run in parallel) were excised from the gel and isolated by phenol extraction: an equal volume of phenols was added to the excised agarose, which was minced to small pieces, frozen for 10 minutes, vortexed and centrifuged. The aqueous phase was collected, the interphase reextracted by the same volume TE-buffer, centrifuged and both aqueous phases were combined. DNA was further purified twice by phenol/chloroform and once by chloroform/isoamylalcohol extraction.

1.7 After ethanol precipitation, one fourth or one fifth of the isolated DNA was reamplified using the same 52° C./60 s 72° C.; cycle 13: 60 s 93° C./40 s 52° C./420 s 72° C.). The reamplification products were purified, restricted with the same enzymes as above and the uncleaved products were isolated from agarose gels as mentioned above for the amplification products. The reamplification followed by restriction and gel isolation was repeated once.

1.8 After the last isolation from the gel, the amplification products were digested by 4 units EcoR I (Pharmacia) for 2 hours at 37° C. using the buffer recommended by the manufacturer. One fourth of the restriction mixture was ligated to the vector pBluescriptII SK+ (Stratagene) which was digested likewise by EcoR I. After ligation, 24 clones from each enzyme combination were further analyzed by sequence analysis. The sample restricted by AlwN I and Sph I contained no new sequences, only BMP6 and Inhibin βA sequences. 19 identical new sequences, which were named MP-121, were found by the Ava I, AlwN I and Tfi I restricted samples. The MP-121 containing plasmids were called pSK MP-121 (OD/OID). One sequence differed from this mainly-found sequence by two nucleotide exchanges. Ligation reaction and transformation in E. coli HB101 were performed as described in Sambrook et al., Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual (1989). Transformants were selected by Ampicillin resistance and the plasmid DNAs were isolated according to standard protocols (Sambrook et al. (1989)). Analysis was done by sequencing the double-stranded plasmids by "dideoxyribonucleotide chain termination sequencing" with the sequencing kit "Sequenase Version 2.0" (United States Biochemical Corporation).

The clone was completed to the 3' end of the c-DNA by a method described in detail by Frohman (Amplifications, published by Perkin-Elmer Corporation, issue 5 (1990), pp 11-15). The same liver MRNA which was used for the isolation of the first fragment of MP-121 was reverse transcribed using a primer consisting of oligo dT (16 residues) linked to an adaptor primer

SEQ ID NO. 11 (AGAATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACGAAGC(T)₁₆). Amplification was performed using the adaptor primer

SEQ ID NO. 12 (AGAATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACG) and an internal primer

SEQ ID NO. 13 (GGCTACGCCATGAACTTCTGCATA) of the MP-121 sequence. The amplification products were reamplified using a nested internal primer SEQ ID NO. 14 (ACATAGCAGGCATGCCTGGTATTG) of the MP-121 sequence and the adaptor primer. The reamplification products were cloned after restriction with Sph I in the likewise restricted vector pT7/T3 U19 (Pharmacia) and sequenced with the sequencing kit "Sequenase Version 2.0" (United States Biochemical Corporation). Clones were characterized by their sequence overlap to the 3' end of the known MP-121 sequence.

One clone, called p12lLt 3' MP13, was used to isolate a NcoI (blunt ended with T4 polymerase)/SphI fragment. This fragment was ligated into a pSK MP-121 (OD/OID) vector, where the OD primer sequence was located close to the T7 primer sequence of the pSK+ multiple cloning site, opened with SphI/SmaI. The resulting plasmid was called pMP121DFus6. It contains MP-121 specific sequence information starting from position 922 and ending with position 1360 of SEQ ID NO. 2.

1. 9 Using a DdeI fragment of pMP-121DFus6 as a probe, ranging from nucleotide 931 to nucleotide 1304 of SEQ ID NO. 2, a human liver cDNA library (Clontech, # HL3006b, Lot 36223) was screened by a common method described in detail by Ausubel et al. (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (1989)). From 8.1×10⁵ phages, 24 mixed clones were isolated and re-screened using the DdeI fragment. 10 clones were confirmed and the EcoRI fragments subcloned into Bluescript SK (Stratagene, # 212206). EcoRI restriction analysis showed that one clone (SK121 L9.1, deposited by the DSM (#9177) has an insert of about 2.3 kb. This clone contains the complete reading frame of the MP121 gene and further information to the 5' and 3' end in addition to the sequence isolated from mRNA by the described amplification methods. The complete sequence of the EcoRI insert of SK121 L9.1 is shown in SEQ ID NO.2. The reading frame of the MP-121 gene could be confirmed by sequencing of another clone (SK121 L11.1), having the identical reading frame sequence as SK121 L9.1. The beginning of the start codon of the MP-121 sequence of SK121 L9.1 could be determined at position 128 of SEQ ID NO.2, since there are three stop codons in-frame in front of the start codon at positions 62, 77 and 92. The start site of the mature MP-121 is at position 836 of SEQ ID NO. 2 in sequence analogy to other members of the TGF-β-family, corresponding to amino acid 237 in SEQ ID NO.4. The stop codon is at position 1184 of SEQ ID NO.2.

Plasmid SK121 L9.1 was deposited under number 9177 at DSM (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen), Mascheroder Weg 1b, Braunschweig, on 26.04.94).

EXAMPLE 2 Isolation of MP-52

A further cDNA sequence, MP-52, was isolated according to the above described method (Example 1) by using RNA from human embryo (8-9 weeks old) tissue. The PCR reaction contained cDNA corresponding to 20 ng of poly (A⁺)RNA as starting material. The reamplification step was repeated twice for both enzyme combinations. After ligation, 24 clones from each enzyme combination were further analyzed by sequence analysis. The sample resticted by AlwN I and Sph I yielded a new sequence which was named MP-52. The other clones comprised mainly BMP6 and one BMP7 sequence. The sample restricted by Ava I, AlwN I and Tfi I contained no new sequences, but consisted mainly of BMP7 and a few Inhibin βA sequences.

The clone was completed to the 3' end according to the above described method (Example 1). The same embryo mRNA, which was used for the isolation of the first fragment of MP-52, was reverse transcribed as in Example 1. Amplification was performed using the adaptor primer SEQ ID NO. 12 (AGAATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACG) and an internal primer SEQ ID NO. 15 (CTTGAGTACGAGGCTTTCCACTG) of the MP-52 sequence. The amplification products were reamplified using a nested adaptor primer SEQ ID NO. 16 (ATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACGAAG) and a nested internal primer SEQ ID NO. 17 (GGAGCCCACGAATCATGCAGTCA) of the MP-52 sequence. The reamplification products were cloned after restriction with Nco I in a likewise restricted vector (pUC 19 (Pharmacia #27-4951-01) with an altered multiple cloning site containing a unique Nco I restriction site) and sequenced. Clones were characterized by their sequence overlap to the 3' end of the known MP-52 sequence. Some of these clones contain the last 143 basepairs of the 31 end of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and the 0,56 kb 3 non translated region (sequence not shown). One of these was used as a probe to screen a human genomic library (Stratagene #946203) by a common method described in detail by Ausubel et al. (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (1989)). From 8×10⁵ λ phages one phage (λ2.7.4) which was proved to contain an insert of about 20 kb, was isolated and deposited by the DSM (#7387). This clone contains in addition to the sequence isolated from mRNA by the described amplification methods sequence information further to the 5' end. For sequence analysis a Hind III fragment of about 7,5 kb was subcloned in a likewise restricted vector (Bluescript SK, Stratagene #212206). This plasmid, called SKL 52 (H3) MP12, was also deposited by the DSM (# 7353). Sequence information derived from this clone is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. At nucleotide No. 1050, the determined cDNA and the respective genomic sequence differ by one basepair (cDNA: G; genomic DNA: A). We assume the genomic sequence to be correct, as it was confirmed also by sequencing of the amplified genomic DNA from embryonic tissue which had been used for the mRNA preparation. The genomic DNA contains an intron of about 2 kb between basepairs 332 and 333 of SEQ ID NO: 1. The sequence of the intron is not shown. The correct exon/exon junction was confirmed by sequencing an amplification product derived from cDNA which comprises this region. This sequencing information was obtained by the help of a slightly modified method described in detail by Frohman (Amplifications, published by Perkin-Elmer Corporation, issue 5 (1990), pp 11-15). The same embryo RNA which was used for the isolation of the 3' end of MP-52 was reverse transcribed using an internal primer of the MP-52 sequence oriented in the 5' direction SEQ ID NO. 18 (ACAGCAGGTGGGTGGTGTGGACT). A polyA tail was appended to the 5' end of the first strand cDNA by using terminal transferase. A two step amplification was performed first by application of a primer consisting of oligo dT and an adaptor primer SEQ ID NO. 11 (AGAATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACGAAGC(T₁₆)) and secondly an adaptor primer SEQ ID NO. 12 (AGAATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACG) and an internal primer SEQ ID NO. 19 (CCAGCAGCCCATCCTTCTCC) of the MP-52 sequence. The amplification products were reamplified using the same adaptor primer and a nested internal primer SEQ ID NO. 20 (TCCAGGGCACTAATGTCAAACACG) of the MP-52 sequence. Consecutively the reamplification products were again reamplified using a nested adaptor primer SEQ ID NO. 16 (ATTCGCATGCCATGGTCGACGAAG) and a nested internal primer SEQ ID NO. 21 (ACTAATGTCAAACACGTACCTCTG) of the MP-52 sequence. The final reamplification products were blunt end cloned in a vector (Bluescript SK, Stratagene #212206) restricted with EcoRV. Clones were characterized by their sequence overlap to the DNA of λ2.7.4.

Plasmid SKL 52 (H3) MP12 was deposited under number 7353 at DSM (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen), Mascheroder Weg 1b, 3300 Braunschweig, on 10.12.1992.

Phage λ2.7.4. was deposited under number 7387 at DSM on 13.1.1993.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                 - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 53                                             - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1207 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 #mRNA (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA or cDNA from                                     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                  - ACCGGGCGGC CCTGAACCCA AGCCAGGACA CCCTCCCCAA ACAAGGCAGG CT - #ACAGCCCG          60                                                                           - GACTGTGACC CCAAAAGGAC AGCTTCCCGG AGGCAAGGCA CCCCCAAAAG CA - #GGATCTGT         120                                                                           - CCCCAGCTCC TTCCTGCTGA AGAAGGCCAG GGAGCCCGGG CCCCCACGAG AG - #CCCAAGGA         180                                                                           - GCCGTTTCGC CCACCCCCCA TCACACCCCA CGAGTACATG CTCTCGCTGT AC - #AGGACGCT         240                                                                           - GTCCGATGCT GACAGAAAGG GAGGCAACAG CAGCGTGAAG TTGGAGGCTG GC - #CTGGCCAA         300                                                                           - CACCATCACC AGCTTTATTG ACAAAGGGCA AGATGACCGA GGTCCCGTGG TC - #AGGAAGCA         360                                                                           - GAGGTACGTG TTTGACATTA GTGCCCTGGA GAAGGATGGG CTGCTGGGGG CC - #GAGCTGCG         420                                                                           - GATCTTGCGG AAGAAGCCCT CGGACACGGC CAAGCCAGCG GCCCCCGGAG GC - #GGGCGGGC         480                                                                           - TGCCCAGCTG AAGCTGTCCA GCTGCCCCAG CGGCCGGCAG CCGGCCTCCT TG - #CTGGATGT         540                                                                           - GCGCTCCGTG CCAGGCCTGG ACGGATCTGG CTGGGAGGTG TTCGACATCT GG - #AAGCTCTT         600                                                                           - CCGAAACTTT AAGAACTCGG CCCAGCTGTG CCTGGAGCTG GAGGCCTGGG AA - #CGGGGCAG         660                                                                           - GGCCGTGGAC CTCCGTGGCC TGGGCTTCGA CCGCGCCGCC CGGCAGGTCC AC - #GAGAAGGC         720                                                                           - CCTGTTCCTG GTGTTTGGCC GCACCAAGAA ACGGGACCTG TTCTTTAATG AG - #ATTAAGGC         780                                                                           - CCGCTCTGGC CAGGACGATA AGACCGTGTA TGAGTACCTG TTCAGCCAGC GG - #CGAAAACG         840                                                                           - GCGGGCCCCA CTGGCCACTC GCCAGGGCAA GCGACCCAGC AAGAACCTTA AG - #GCTCGCTG         900                                                                           - CAGTCGGAAG GCACTGCATG TCAACTTCAA GGACATGGGC TGGGACGACT GG - #ATCATCGC         960                                                                           - ACCCCTTGAG TACGAGGCTT TCCACTGCGA GGGGCTGTGC GAGTTCCCAT TG - #CGCTCCCA        1020                                                                           - CCTGGAGCCC ACGAATCATG CAGTCATCCA GACCCTGATG AACTCCATGG AC - #CCCGAGTC        1080                                                                           - CACACCACCC ACCTGCTGTG TGCCCACGCG GCTGAGTCCC ATCAGCATCC TC - #TTCATTGA        1140                                                                           - CTCTGCCAAC AACGTGGTGT ATAAGCAGTA TGAGGACATG GTCGTGGAGT CG - #TGTGGCTG        1200                                                                           #        1207                                                                  - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 2272 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA from mRNA                                       -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                  - CAAGGAGCCA TGCCAGCTGG ACACACACTT CTTCCAGGGC CTCTGGCAGC CA - #GGACAGAG          60                                                                           - TTGAGACCAC AGCTGTTGAG ACCCTGAGCC CTGAGTCTGT ATTGCTCAAG AA - #GGGCCTTC         120                                                                           - CCCAGCAATG ACCTCCTCAT TGCTTCTGGC CTTTCTCCTC CTGGCTCCAA CC - #ACAGTGGC         180                                                                           - CACTCCCAGA GCTGGCGGTC AGTGTCCAGC ATGTGGGGGG CCCACCTTGG AA - #CTGGAGAG         240                                                                           - CCAGCGGGAG CTGCTTCTTG ATCTGGCCAA GAGAAGCATC TTGGACAAGC TG - #CACCTCAC         300                                                                           - CCAGCGCCCA ACACTGAACC GCCCTGTGTC CAGAGCTGCT TTGAGGACTG CA - #CTGCAGCA         360                                                                           - CCTCCACGGG GTCCCACAGG GGGCACTTCT AGAGGACAAC AGGGAACAGG AA - #TGTGAAAT         420                                                                           - CATCAGCTTT GCTGAGACAG GCCTCTCCAC CATCAACCAG ACTCGTCTTG AT - #TTTCACTT         480                                                                           - CTCCTCTGAT AGAACTGCTG GTGACAGGGA GGTCCAGCAG GCCAGTCTCA TG - #TTCTTTGT         540                                                                           - GCAGCTCCCT TCCAATACCA CTTGGACCTT GAAAGTGAGA GTCCTTGTGC TG - #GGTCCACA         600                                                                           - TAATACCAAC CTCACCTTGG CTACTCAGTA CCTGCTGGAG GTGGATGCCA GT - #GGCTGGCA         660                                                                           - TCAACTCCCC CTAGGGCCTG AAGCTCAAGC TGCCTGCAGC CAGGGGCACC TG - #ACCCTGGA         720                                                                           - GCTGGTACTT GAAGGCCAGG TAGCCCAGAG CTCAGTCATC CTGGGTGGAG CT - #GCCCATAG         780                                                                           - GCCTTTTGTG GCAGCCCGGG TGAGAGTTGG GGGCAAACAC CAGATTCACC GA - #CGAGGCAT         840                                                                           - CGACTGCCAA GGAGGGTCCA GGATGTGCTG TCGACAAGAG TTTTTTGTGG AC - #TTCCGTGA         900                                                                           - GATTGGCTGG CACGACTGGA TCATCCAGCC TGAGGGCTAC GCCATGAACT TC - #TGCATAGG         960                                                                           - GCAGTGCCCA CTACACATAG CAGGCATGCC TGGTATTGCT GCCTCCTTTC AC - #ACTGCAGT        1020                                                                           - GCTCAATCTT CTCAAGGCCA ACACAGCTGC AGGCACCACT GGAGGGGGCT CA - #TGCTGTGT        1080                                                                           - ACCCACGGCC CGGCGCCCCC TGTCTCTGCT CTATTATGAC AGGGACAGCA AC - #ATTGTCAA        1140                                                                           - GACTGACATA CCTGACATGG TAGTAGAGGC CTGTGGGTGC AGTTAGTCTA TG - #TGTGGTAT        1200                                                                           - GGGCAGCCCA AGGTTGCATG GGAAAACACG CCCCTACAGA AGTGCACTTC CT - #TGAGAGGA        1260                                                                           - GGGAATGACC TCATTCTCTG TCCAGAATGT GGACTCCCTC TTCCTGAGCA TC - #TTATGGAA        1320                                                                           - ATTACCCCAC CTTTGACTTG AAGAAACCTT CATCTAAAGC AAGTCACTGT GC - #CATCTTCC        1380                                                                           - TGACCACTAC CCTCTTTCCT AGGGCATAGT CCATCCCGCT AGTCCATCCC GC - #TAGCCCCA        1440                                                                           - CTCCAGGGAC TCAGACCCAT CTCCAACCAT GAGCAATGCC ATCTGGTTCC CA - #GGCAAAGA        1500                                                                           - CACCCTTAGC TCACCTTTAA TAGACCCCAT AACCCACTAT GCCTTCCTGT CC - #TTTCTACT        1560                                                                           - CAATGGTCCC CACTCCAAGA TGAGTTGACA CAACCCCTTC CCCCAATTTT TG - #TGGATCTC        1620                                                                           - CAGAGAGGCC CTTCTTTGGA TTCACCAAAG TTTAGATCAC TGCTGCCCAA AA - #TAGAGGCT        1680                                                                           - TACCTACCCC CCTCTTTGTT GTGAGCCCCT GTCCTTCTTA GTTGTCCAGG TG - #AACTACTA        1740                                                                           - AAGCTCTCTT TGCATACCTT CATCCATTTT TTGTCCTTCT CTGCCTTTCT CT - #ATGCCCTT        1800                                                                           - AAGGGGTGAC TTGCCTGAGC TCTATCACCT GAGCTCCCCT GCCCTCTGGC TT - #CCTGCTGA        1860                                                                           - GGTCAGGGCA TTTCTTATCC CTGTTCCCTC TCTGTCTAGG TGTCATGGTT CT - #GTGTAACT        1920                                                                           - GTGGCTATTC TGTGTCCCTA CACTACCTGG CTACCCCCTT CCATGGCCCC AG - #CTCTGCCT        1980                                                                           - ACATTCTGAT TTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTTTT TGAAAAGTTA AAAATTCCTT AA - #TTTTTTAT        2040                                                                           - TCCTGGTACC ACTACCACAA TTTACAGGGC AATATACCTG ATGTAATGAA AA - #GAAAAAGA        2100                                                                           - AAAAGACAAA GCTACAACAG ATAAAAGACC TCAGGAATGT ACATCTAATT GA - #CACTACAT        2160                                                                           - TGCATTAATC AATAGCTGCA CTTTTTGCAA ACTGTGGCTA TGACAGTCCT GA - #ACAAGAAG        2220                                                                           - GGTTTCCTGT TTAAGCTGCA GTAACTTTTC TGACTATGGA TCATCGTTCC TT - #                2272                                                                           - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 401 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                  - Pro Gly Gly Pro Glu Pro Lys Pro Gly His Pr - #o Pro Gln Thr Arg Gln          #                15                                                            - Ala Thr Ala Arg Thr Val Thr Pro Lys Gly Gl - #n Leu Pro Gly Gly Lys          #            30                                                                - Ala Pro Pro Lys Ala Gly Ser Val Pro Ser Se - #r Phe Leu Leu Lys Lys          #        45                                                                    - Ala Arg Glu Pro Gly Pro Pro Arg Glu Pro Ly - #s Glu Pro Phe Arg Pro          #    60                                                                        - Pro Pro Ile Thr Pro His Glu Tyr Met Leu Se - #r Leu Tyr Arg Thr Leu          #80                                                                            - Ser Asp Ala Asp Arg Lys Gly Gly Asn Ser Se - #r Val Lys Leu Glu Ala          #                95                                                            - Gly Leu Ala Asn Thr Ile Thr Ser Phe Ile As - #p Lys Gly Gln Asp Asp          #           110                                                                - Arg Gly Pro Val Val Arg Lys Gln Arg Tyr Va - #l Phe Asp Ile Ser Ala          #       125                                                                    - Leu Glu Lys Asp Gly Leu Leu Gly Ala Glu Le - #u Arg Ile Leu Arg Lys          #   140                                                                        - Lys Pro Ser Asp Thr Ala Lys Pro Ala Ala Pr - #o Gly Gly Gly Arg Ala          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55             160            - Ala Gln Leu Lys Leu Ser Ser Cys Pro Ser Gl - #y Arg Gln Pro Ala Ser          #               175                                                            - Leu Leu Asp Val Arg Ser Val Pro Gly Leu As - #p Gly Ser Gly Trp Glu          #           190                                                                - Val Phe Asp Ile Trp Lys Leu Phe Arg Asn Ph - #e Lys Asn Ser Ala Gln          #       205                                                                    - Leu Cys Leu Glu Leu Glu Ala Trp Glu Arg Gl - #y Arg Ala Val Asp Leu          #   220                                                                        - Arg Gly Leu Gly Phe Asp Arg Ala Ala Arg Gl - #n Val His Glu Lys Ala          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                240         - Leu Phe Leu Val Phe Gly Arg Thr Lys Lys Ar - #g Asp Leu Phe Phe Asn          #               255                                                            - Glu Ile Lys Ala Arg Ser Gly Gln Asp Asp Ly - #s Thr Val Tyr Glu Tyr          #           270                                                                - Leu Phe Ser Gln Arg Arg Lys Arg Arg Ala Pr - #o Leu Ala Thr Arg Gln          #       285                                                                    - Gly Lys Arg Pro Ser Lys Asn Leu Lys Ala Ar - #g Cys Ser Arg Lys Ala          #   300                                                                        - Leu His Val Asn Phe Lys Asp Met Gly Trp As - #p Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                320         - Pro Leu Glu Tyr Glu Ala Phe His Cys Glu Gl - #y Leu Cys Glu Phe Pro          #               335                                                            - Leu Arg Ser His Leu Glu Pro Thr Asn His Al - #a Val Ile Gln Thr Leu          #           350                                                                - Met Asn Ser Met Asp Pro Glu Ser Thr Pro Pr - #o Thr Cys Cys Val Pro          #       365                                                                    - Thr Arg Leu Ser Pro Ile Ser Ile Leu Phe Il - #e Asp Ser Ala Asn Asn          #   380                                                                        - Val Val Tyr Lys Gln Tyr Glu Asp Met Val Va - #l Glu Ser Cys Gly Cys          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                400         - Arg                                                                          - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 352 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                  - Met Thr Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Ala Phe Leu Le - #u Leu Ala Pro Thr Thr          #                15                                                            - Val Ala Thr Pro Arg Ala Gly Gly Gln Cys Pr - #o Ala Cys Gly Gly Pro          #            30                                                                - Thr Leu Glu Leu Glu Ser Gln Arg Glu Leu Le - #u Leu Asp Leu Ala Lys          #        45                                                                    - Arg Ser Ile Leu Asp Lys Leu His Leu Thr Gl - #n Arg Pro Thr Leu Asn          #    60                                                                        - Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Ala Ala Leu Arg Thr Al - #a Leu Gln His Leu His          #80                                                                            - Gly Val Pro Gln Gly Ala Leu Leu Glu Asp As - #n Arg Glu Gln Glu Cys          #                95                                                            - Glu Ile Ile Ser Phe Ala Glu Thr Gly Leu Se - #r Thr Ile Asn Gln Thr          #           110                                                                - Arg Leu Asp Phe His Phe Ser Ser Asp Arg Th - #r Ala Gly Asp Arg Glu          #       125                                                                    - Val Gln Gln Ala Ser Leu Met Phe Phe Val Gl - #n Leu Pro Ser Asn Thr          #   140                                                                        - Thr Trp Thr Leu Lys Val Arg Val Leu Val Le - #u Gly Pro His Asn Thr          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                160         - Asn Leu Thr Leu Ala Thr Gln Tyr Leu Leu Gl - #u Val Asp Ala Ser Gly          #               175                                                            - Trp His Gln Leu Pro Leu Gly Pro Glu Ala Gl - #n Ala Ala Cys Ser Gln          #           190                                                                - Gly His Leu Thr Leu Glu Leu Val Leu Glu Gl - #y Gln Val Ala Gln Ser          #       205                                                                    - Ser Val Ile Leu Gly Gly Ala Ala His Arg Pr - #o Phe Val Ala Ala Arg          #   220                                                                        - Val Arg Val Gly Gly Lys His Gln Ile His Ar - #g Arg Gly Ile Asp Cys          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                240         - Gln Gly Gly Ser Arg Met Cys Cys Arg Gln Gl - #u Phe Phe Val Asp Phe          #               255                                                            - Arg Glu Ile Gly Trp His Asp Trp Ile Ile Gl - #n Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala          #           270                                                                - Met Asn Phe Cys Ile Gly Gln Cys Pro Leu Hi - #s Ile Ala Gly Met Pro          #       285                                                                    - Gly Ile Ala Ala Ser Phe His Thr Ala Val Le - #u Asn Leu Leu Lys Ala          #   300                                                                        - Asn Thr Ala Ala Gly Thr Thr Gly Gly Gly Se - #r Cys Cys Val Pro Thr          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                320         - Ala Arg Arg Pro Leu Ser Leu Leu Tyr Tyr As - #p Arg Asp Ser Asn Ile          #               335                                                            - Val Lys Thr Asp Ile Pro Asp Met Val Val Gl - #u Ala Cys Gly Cys Ser          #           350                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 265 base                                                           (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA from mRNA                                       -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                  - CATCCAGCCT GAGGGCTACG CCATGAACTT CTGCATAGGG CAGTGCCCAC TA - #CACATAGC          60                                                                           - AGGCATGCCT GGTATTGCTG CCTCCTTTCA CACTGCAGTG CTCAATCTTC TC - #AAGGCCAA         120                                                                           - CACAGCTGCA GGCACCACTG GAGGGGGCTC ATGCTGTGTA CCCACGGCCC GG - #CGCCCCCT         180                                                                           - GTCTCTGCTC TATTATGACA GGGACAGCAA CATTGTCAAG ACTGACATAC CT - #GACATGGT         240                                                                           #              265 TGCA GTTAG                                                  - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 139 base                                                           (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA from mRNA                                       -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                  - CATCGCACCC CTTGAGTACG AGGCTTTCCA CTGCGAGGGG CTGTGCGAGT TC - #CCATTGCG          60                                                                           - CTCCCACCTG GAGCCCACGA ATCATGCAGT CATCCAGACC CTGATGAACT CC - #ATGGACCC         120                                                                           #139               ACC                                                         - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 27 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  #ID NO:7: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       #             27   CCGA GTCCACA                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 30 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                  #           30     CAGC TGCAGGCACC                                             - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 9 amino                                                            (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                  - Met Asn Ser Met Asp Pro Glu Ser Thr                                          1               5                                                              - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 10 amino                                                           (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                                 - Leu Leu Lys Ala Asn Thr Ala Ala Gly Thr                                      #                10                                                            - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 46 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                                 #                 46GTC GACGAAGCTT TTTTTTTTTT TTTTTT                           - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                                 #                24GGTC GACG                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                                 #                24TCTG CATA                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                                 #                24TGGT ATTG                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                                 #                23TCCA CTG                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                                 #                24CGAC GAAG                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                                 #                23GCAG TCA                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                                 #                23GTGG ACT                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                                 # 20               CTCC                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                                 #                24CAAA CACG                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                                 #                24TACC TCTG                                                   - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                                 - Cys Ser Arg Lys Ala Leu His Val Asn Phe Ly - #s Asp Met Gly Trp Asp          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Leu Glu Tyr Glu Al - #a Phe His Cys Glu Gly          #            30                                                                - Leu Cys Glu Phe Pro Leu Arg Ser His Leu Gl - #u Pro Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Val Ile Gln Thr Leu Met Asn Ser Met Asp Pr - #o Glu Ser Thr Pro Pro          #    60                                                                        - Thr Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Arg Leu Ser Pro Il - #e Ser Ile Leu Phe Ile          #80                                                                            - Asp Ser Ala Asn Asn Val Val Tyr Lys Gln Ty - #r Glu Asp Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Glu Ser Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 101 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                                 - Cys Lys Arg His Pro Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr His Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Lys Ile Pro Lys Ala          #    60                                                                        - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #80                                                                            - Glu Asn Glu Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Asp Met Val Val Glu          #                95                                                            - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                      100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 101 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                                 - Cys Arg Arg His Ser Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gln Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Asp Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Ser Ile Pro Lys Ala          #    60                                                                        - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #80                                                                            - Glu Tyr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Glu Met Val Val Glu          #                95                                                            - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                      100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                                 - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Phe Pr - #o Asp His Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                                 - Cys Arg Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gl - #n Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Asn Pr - #o Glu Tyr Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Asn Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                                 - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Leu Asn Ser Tyr Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Phe Ile Asn Pr - #o Glu Thr Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Gln Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 106 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                                 - Cys Cys Arg Gln Glu Phe Phe Val Asp Phe Ar - #g Glu Ile Gly Trp His          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Gln Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Me - #t Asn Phe Cys Ile Gly          #            30                                                                - Gln Cys Pro Leu His Ile Ala Gly Met Pro Gl - #y Ile Ala Ala Ser Phe          #        45                                                                    - His Thr Ala Val Leu Asn Leu Leu Lys Ala As - #n Thr Ala Ala Gly Thr          #    60                                                                        - Thr Gly Gly Gly Ser Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Al - #a Arg Arg Pro Leu Ser          #80                                                                            - Leu Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Arg Asp Ser Asn Ile Va - #l Lys Thr Asp Ile Pro          #                95                                                            - Asp Met Val Val Glu Ala Cys Gly Cys Ser                                      #           105                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 106 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                                 - Cys Cys Lys Lys Gln Phe Phe Val Ser Phe Ly - #s Asp Ile Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Ser Gly Tyr His Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Glu Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Pro Ser His Ile Ala Gly Thr Ser Gl - #y Ser Ser Leu Ser Phe          #        45                                                                    - His Ser Thr Val Ile Asn His Tyr Arg Met Ar - #g Gly His Ser Pro Phe          #    60                                                                        - Ala Asn Leu Lys Ser Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Ly - #s Leu Arg Pro Met Ser          #80                                                                            - Met Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Asp Gly Gln Asn Ile Il - #e Lys Lys Asp Ile Gln          #                95                                                            - Asn Met Ile Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Ser                                      #           105                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 105 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                                 - Cys Cys Arg Gln Gln Phe Phe Ile Asp Phe Ar - #g Leu Ile Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Thr Gly Tyr Tyr Gl - #y Asn Tyr Cys Glu Gly          #            30                                                                - Ser Cys Pro Ala Tyr Leu Ala Gly Val Pro Gl - #y Ser Ala Ser Ser Phe          #        45                                                                    - His Thr Ala Val Val Asn Gln Tyr Arg Met Ar - #g Gly Leu Asn Pro Gly          #    60                                                                        - Thr Val Asn Ser Cys Cys Ile Pro Thr Lys Le - #u Ser Thr Met Ser Met          #80                                                                            - Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Glu Tyr Asn Ile Val Ly - #s Arg Asp Val Pro Asn          #                95                                                            - Met Ile Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Ala                                          #           105                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 105 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:                                 - Cys His Arg Val Ala Leu Asn Ile Ser Phe Gl - #n Glu Leu Gly Trp Glu          #                15                                                            - Arg Trp Ile Val Tyr Pro Pro Ser Phe Ile Ph - #e His Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Gly Cys Gly Leu His Ile Pro Pro Asn Leu Se - #r Leu Pro Val Pro Gly          #        45                                                                    - Ala Pro Pro Thr Pro Ala Gln Pro Tyr Ser Le - #u Leu Pro Gly Ala Gln          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Ala Leu Pro Gly Thr Met Ar - #g Pro Leu His Val Arg          #80                                                                            - Thr Thr Ser Asp Gly Gly Tyr Ser Phe Lys Ty - #r Glu Thr Val Pro Asn          #                95                                                            - Leu Leu Thr Gln His Cys Ala Cys Ile                                          #           105                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 36 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:                                 #       36         CTGG GCTGGMAKGA MTGGAT                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:38:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:38:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:39:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:39:                                 #                 22TGG GT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:40:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:40:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:41:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:41:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:42:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:42:                                 #                 22TGG AT                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:43:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 29 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:43:                                 #            29    TSGG SRCACAGCA                                              - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:44:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:44:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:45:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:45:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:46:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:46:                                 #21                CAAC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:47:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:47:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:48:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:48:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:49:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:49:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:50:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:50:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:51:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:51:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:52:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:52:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:53:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:53:                                 #21                CAGC A                                                      __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. An isolated protein of the TGF-β family encoded by a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the following group:(a) the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, (b) a nucleotide sequence which is degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of (a), and (c) fragments of (a) or (b) which encode a protein which has essentially the same cartilage or bone inducing activities as a mature protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 2. A protein according to claim 1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 3. The protein of claim 1 wherein the DNA is a mammalian DNA.
 4. The protein of claim 1 wherein the DNA comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO.
 1. 5. An isolated mature protein, wherein said protein is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 6. A composition containing a protein of the TGF-β family according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in combination with an acceptable carrier.
 7. A method for the treatment of bone and cartilage defects comprising administering a composition containing a protein of the TGF-β family according to claim
 6. 8. An isolated MP-121 protein of the TGF-β family encoded by a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the following group:(a) the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, (b) a nucleotide sequence which is degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the DNA of (a), (c) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under the following stringent hybridization conditions to the DNA in (a), or (b): hybridization at a salt concentration of 4X SSC at 62°-66° C. followed by a one-hour wash with 0.1X SSC and 0.1% SDS at 62°-66° C., and (d) fragments of (a), (b) or (c) which encode a protein which has essentially the same cartilage or bone inducing activity as a mature protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 9. A protein according to claim 8 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 10. The protein of claim 8, wherein the DNA comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 11. The protein according to claim 8, wherein said protein contains the amino acid sequence Leu-Leu-Lys-Ala-Asn-Thr-Ala-Ala-Gly Thr (SEQ ID NO:10) and is at least 116 amino acids long.
 12. An isolated mature protein, wherein said protein is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 